Supreme Court won’t hear Texas death row inmate’s bid for DNA testing again

The Hill
by Ella Lee
March 23, 2026
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3 min read

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The Supreme Court declined to hear Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed's appeal for DNA testing, clearing the way for his execution.

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The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed's appeal for DNA testing, clearing the way for his execution after the court had previously allowed his bid to advance nearly three years ago. Reed was convicted and sentenced to death in connection with a 1996 murder and has long sought DNA testing to prove his innocence. The justices' refusal to take the case effectively ends Reed's legal challenge at the nation's highest court, removing a major obstacle to carrying out his death sentence. The decision comes after the Supreme Court had previously permitted Reed's case to move forward, suggesting a shift in the court's willingness to hear his claims. Texas now appears positioned to proceed with executing Reed, barring intervention from lower courts or the governor's office.

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